Brown tackles authorities on racism

Wales goalkeeper Jason Brown has played down talk of a breakaway anti-racism group as the row over racism continues to engulf football, but has admitted it could be an option if he and his fellow black players lose further faith in the authorities.

PUBLISHED: PUBLISHED: 18:07, Mon, Oct 22, 2012

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Jason Brown has played down talk of players creating their own anti-racism group [PA]

The weekend`s football was overshadowed by the number of players who opted not to sport the t-shirts provided by the anti-racism group Kick It Out, with Manchester United`s Rio Ferdinand the most high-profile to not wear the top.

In an interview with Sky Sports News he suggested he is losing trust in Kick It Out boss Lord Ouseley, while also asking why the PFA chairman Gordon Taylor has not done more. "Enough is enough. If you look at those who didn`t wear them, then there is a lack of belief (in the authorities) and everyone can see it now for what it is," Aberdeen's Brown said.

The issue of race has burned the strongest it has done since the dark days of the 1980s over the past year as a result of incidents involving John Terry and Luis Suarez.

Referring to a recent radio conversation with Lord Ouseley, Brown continued: "I spoke to Lord Ousley the other day and what was quite disturbing for me was his last comment of `I`m not here to speak out for black players who are wealthy`.

"Does money come in to race? If you`ve got money do you have to take it? That`s disappointing. How can people trust these people? How can you sport the t-shirt or the badge when the chairman of Kick It Out says he cannot stand up for black players who are wealthy."

Brown went on to claim a number of his fellow players have made suggestions to Kick It Out and the PFA, adding: "I know four to five players who have met with Kick It Out and the PFA and gave them suggestions, but it seems they must have got lost because they have done nothing.

"They (the PFA) know (the ideas). It`ll be interesting to see if they start implementing. Gordon Taylor is one of the people that, as far as I know, sat down with the players. Maybe the paperwork is lost under his desk. They`re here to speak up for us but with the race issue, they have let it slide. I don`t know why, but they`re clearly not doing enough."

It has been reported that players could opt to start their own anti-racism group, but Brown does not want it to come to that.

"We`re not here to become rebels, we love the game but at the same time, if people we trust, the Union, the PFA, Kick It Out, are not doing what we ask of them, what are they here for," he said.